Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1887-09-30
SAN FRANCISCO.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GREAT CITY.
SIGHTS AND SCENES.

| San francisco tne youngest VI tHS SIed'
cities OF the world is possessed OF a romantic
history, bordering on the marvellous. The
date of settlement is fixed at several different
periods 1t is first claimed to be at the time
when Portala and Crespi in 1869 selected the
site for the old Mission or when Vioget in
1889 surveyed the ground into streets and
squares, or when in 1877 the Americans re-
surveyed and enlarged the area and gave the
name San Francisco. Although young, yet
the auspices under which the city was founded
has given certain characteristic Of obscurity,
and antiquity to its history. In this vast city
every state OF the Union,. every country OF the
known world is represented. Every Ian
cuaee and every color of the human race is to
be seen and heard, and every religion has its
worshipers. The name California originated
from the brain OF a novelist, the romance
when first discovered read thus: ''Las Sergas
del Muy Esporzado Esplandian hlgo del ex-
cellente re AmadIs de Ganla. This was by
Garcia Or6onez de Montaloo of 1910, and in
terpreted reads as follows: "Know that on
the right side of the Indies very near the Ter
restrial Paradise there is an island called Cal
ifornia which is peopled with black women
without men among them, because they are
accustomed to live like Amazons. Cortez
undertook to search for this sislana" and sent
out several expeditions in the attempt. Low
er California was first discovered in 1889 its
tue character as a peninsula was discovered
by Francisco de Muloa. In I542 the coast
was explored as far north as Punta de lor
Reyes by Juan Rodrignes Cabrillo and on
March ). I543 Bartolona Ferrilo pilot and
successor of Cabrillo reported seeing the
Golden Gate. The Golden Gate was, ii is
believed first entered on the 18th of August
1916 by an expedition lei by Francisco Palon
and Benito Cambon, two monks Of the order
of St. Francis dc Assist, who founded the
mission on the site selected by Portala. The
old mission still stands a revered monument of
the years, agone. In 1888 the Pueblo Of
Yerba Buena was created and in 1855 the
first business house was erected by VIM.
Richardson. The first merchanile house was
built on Dupont street between Clay and
Washington. On the Sth Of July 1876, Com
mander Montgomery Of the sloop of war
Portsmouth, took possession in the name of
the United States and raised his flag on the
Plaza, since called Portsmouth square. On
the 3Ist of July the ship Brooklyn from New
York arrived in harbor having on board 2SS
immigrants OF whom all but twelve were Nor
mons, under the leadership Of Samuel Bran
nan. Great was their surprise and conster-
nation upon seeing the Stars and Stripes al
ready waving over the land where they had
hoped to form their colony and where they
might worship in their faith unhindered.
They, however proved Of value to the earlier
settlers. Mr.. Braman at once began the publ
cation of the California Weekly Star which
is now the Alta California, the first
number was issued ON July 9th, IS47. On
the 10Th of Jan. IS4S Jas. NJ. Marshall made
the first discovery OF Gold at Suffers saw mill
Coloma, the news spread rapidly and soon the
whole world was ahame with the fire Of the
new discovery, Washington Bartlett was
elected Governor. A government was formed
| and San Francisco was henceforth destined to
become one OF the mighty centers of civiliza-
ton, around which the commerce Of worlds
should congregate, and to-day the name of
San Francisco is heard in the most remote
parts Of the earth. At present the public
| finances are in good condition, her immense
wealth has preserved her from debt and she
stands comparatively free from all cncum-
brances. To-day the great metropolis is in her
full tide Of glory, her lovely houses, her splen.
did parks, and magnificent business centers,
tend to make her one Of the most beautiful
| cities of the world. a visit to Chinatown,
Woodwards gardens, Cliff house, and Sutro
park should not be neglected, or deferred,
when in the city. The sights in Chinatown
are extremely novel, booths containing all
sorts of Chinese curiosties are erected out
side along the thoroughfarcs; Chinese chill
dren and women arraycd in fantastic costumes
present an amusing spectacle. One is per.
fectly safe in visiting the above place at any
time, the order and custom prevailing almost
equaling that Of other portions Of the city.
An amusing sight was witnessed on Friday
and Saturday OF last week Chinese process
ion in honor Of a new Joss company paraded
the streets bearing all sorts of flags, banners,
miniature pagodas and temples. Chinese on
horseback dressed in red, green, pink and
blue. women on donkeys, boys and girls in
wagons drawn by donkeys, discordant music,
ending with an immense dragon over one hun
dred feet long made Of different colored paper
and cloth, jointed body, borne by men. Al
this served 10 produce most heathenish and
uncivilized aspect. Sutro park located on ar
emminence called Sutro Heights some two
hundred feet above the sea TO one Of the mos
lovely places Of which San Francisco car
boast 1t is the home of Adolph Sutro fou
miles from the city, overlooking the ocean, :
vcritable garden Of Eden with its splendlt
gardens, its proiusion Of flowers, Lowell.
drives, magnificent statuary, an immens
greenhouse filled with rare and beautiful
plants Of all climes. Well kept lawns, foun
tains, sparkling in the bright sunlight ant
cleaning through the stately trees. One al
most imagines himself in Paradise Will
lviewing these lovely works of nature and art
Huge statues twelve feet in height, busts q
noted men of ancient and modern times sue
as Richard Wagner, Mendelsohn, Goethe
Schubert, Schiller and others too numerou
TO mention, huge figure, the 'fSatyr
Dream" half man, half cow reposing on
5 slab forms hideous picture. Ancient Gods
IIermcs, Apollo ETC., may be found anon
the statuary. The park may be seen fc
some distance by approaching steamers, lafg
statues on the wall at the edge of the prec
picc overlooking the sea arc by old sculptor
Carnova's ''Dansensc" six feet in height o.
cupies a prominent place. 1t seems alno
useless TO attempt to describe this park, a
| we shall say further is that it is we'll worth
visit to San Francisco TO see this uncompan